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Nigerian, S. African music saw 'extraordinary growth' in 2024: Spotify

Nigerian and South African music achieved unprecedented growth last year on Spotify, earning record-breaking royalties, the audio streaming platform said on Friday.

Russell Brand: From Hollywood star to rape suspect

Bursting onto the scene as a provocative comedian before transforming into a Hollywood star then internet conspiracy theorist, Russell Brand still boasts millions of online fans despite being accused of rape.

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Godard's 'Breathless' script set to be auctioned

The only known script of French director Jean-Luc Godard's New Wave classic "Breathless" that includes pages of his handwritten notes is set to be sold at auction in June, Sotheby's said Thursday.

Europe games industry on edge as 'Assassin's Creed' hits shelves

Thursday's release of action-adventure epic "Assassin's Creed Shadows" marks a make-or-break moment not just for struggling French games heavyweight Ubisoft, but for the entire European gaming ecosystem.

Cambridge to give honorary degree to rapper Stormzy

Hip-hop star Stormzy will receive an honorary degree from Cambridge, where he has launched a scholarship programme for black students, the prestigious British university said Wednesday.

EU skewers Google, Apple over tech rules -- despite Trump threats

The European Union defied US threats of retaliation Wednesday by accusing Google of violating its digital rules -- which could trigger hefty fines -- and ordering Apple to make its iPhone interact better with rivals' devices.

Global music business raked in $29.6 bn in 2024: report

The global music industry raked in a record $29.6 billion last year as online streaming propelled revenues to their highest level since records began in the 1990s, new figures showed on Wednesday.

US music industry posts 100 million paid streaming users

The US music industry passed 100 million paid streaming subscriptions for the first time in 2024, according to the latest report from the Recording Industry Association of America released Tuesday.

Hollywood urges Trump to protect film, TV from AI

Hundreds of Hollywood stars including Ben Stiller, Cate Blanchett and Cynthia Erivo have urged Donald Trump's White House to protect film, TV and music copyrights against big tech and artificial intelligence.

China calls media outlets facing Trump funding axe 'notorious'

Beijing on Tuesday said media outlets facing the axe by US President Donald Trump had a "notorious" history of reporting on China, as Cambodia's autocratic former leader hailed the move for "combating fake news".

Fired US federal worker in need of releasing steam? Try the internet

A spoon emoji, a subreddit, a viral song: US federal workers are finding sweet succor in the bosom of the internet as President Donald Trump takes an ax to their jobs.

Conan O'Brien tapped to host Oscars again

Conan O'Brien will return to host a second consecutive Oscars, the Academy said Monday, after this month's well-reviewed gala drew almost 20 million viewers in a slight ratings uptick.

Trump to visit top US arts venue after takeover

US President Donald Trump will on Monday visit the Kennedy Center in Washington for the first time since his stunning takeover of the top arts venue that he branded too "woke."

Nine-year-old Thai tattooist makes his mark

Wielding a cumbersome tattoo gun with his small hands swamped in surgical gloves, nine-year-old Napat Mitmakorn expertly inks the pattern of a fanged serpent on a man's upper thigh.

Trump admin begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

President Donald Trump's administration on Sunday began mass layoffs at Voice of America and other US-funded media, making clear its intent to gut outlets long seen as critical for US influence.

Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

President Donald Trump's administration on Sunday began mass layoffs at Voice of America and other US-funded media, making clear its intent to gut outlets long seen as critical for US influence.

Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne dead at 43: family, agent

Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne died of a rare cancer Sunday in a hospital just outside Paris, her family and her agent told AFP. She was 43 years old.

'Novocaine' wins painful weekend for N.America box office

"Novocaine," an action-comedy starring Jack Quaid as a banker who cannot feel pain, topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday, but ticket sales overall were brutally slow.

'Rigid' Hong Kong office turned into artists' satire

At first glance, the office desk could belong to any Chinese executive -- an ashtray, mini-flags, a golden sculpture inscribed with the character for "integrity", and a picture of a local celebrity.

'Disney's Snow White' gets muted Hollywood premiere

Disney's live-action remakes of animated classics are usually safe bets. But a new version of the oldest of them all, "Snow White," has become mired in controversies, receiving an unusually low-key premiere in Hollywood on Saturday.

Trump freezes VOA, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe

President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday put journalists at Voice of America and other US-funded broadcasters on leave, abruptly freezing outlets long seen as critical to countering a Russian and Chinese information offensive.

Former Meta employee barred from promoting explosive memoir

Facebook parent company Meta is seeking to silence a former employee who has made scandalous allegations in a new tell-all book, obtaining a ruling to temporarily bar her from promoting the memoir or bad-mouthing the tech giant.

Hong Kong museum puts Picasso in cross-cultural dialogue

More than a century ago, Pablo Picasso smashed the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris into a web of tangled lines on his canvas, deconstructing reality with the brushstrokes of a master cubist.

War of words: Myanmar migrants face disinformation in Thailand

More than a million people have fled Myanmar's brutal civil war to seek shelter and work in neighbouring Thailand, where experts say nationalists are using disinformation to fuel prejudice against them.

Four-song EP by late singer Faithfull to be released in April

A new four-song EP by British singer and actor Marianne Faithfull, who died in January, is to be released in April, with the title track out on Friday, her family announced.

IOC strike $3 bn deal with NBC in US up to 2036 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced a $3 billion deal allowing NBC Universal to broadcast the Olympics until 2036 in the United States.

End of era as Donatella Versace gives up creative reins of Italian brand

Donatella Versace is giving up the creative reins of luxury fashion label Versace after nearly three decades, it was announced Thursday, effectively ending the family's hold over the brand founded by her murdered brother.

Meta tests 'Community Notes' to replace fact-checkers

Social media giant Meta on Thursday announced it would begin testing its new "Community Notes" feature across its platforms on March 18, as it shifts away from third-party fact-checking toward a crowd-sourced approach to content moderation.

All-women marching band livens up Taiwanese funerals

At a funeral in rural Taiwan, musicians wearing pleated mini-skirts and go-go boots march around a coffin to the beat of the 1980s hit "I Hate Myself for Loving You".

Struggling Intel names industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as CEO

Intel on Wednesday announced tech industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its new chief executive, boosting shares of the US computer chipmaker struggling to catch up in the AI race.

Russian playwright tells story of wounded soldiers

Sat in a Moscow theatre, Pavel wiped tears as he watched actors perform a dramatised version of his life: from his childhood in the south of Russia, near Ukraine, to his mobilisation into the Russian army and amputation after combat.

Talk of the town: Iconic covers of the New Yorker magazine

From its first edition 100 years ago through the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, to the attacks of September 11, 2001 and on to the present day, New Yorker covers have won both artistic and journalistic acclaim.

The New Yorker, a US institution, celebrates 100 years of goings on

The New Yorker magazine, a staple of American literary and cultural life defined by its distinctive covers, long-form journalism, witty cartoons and particular grammar, is celebrating 100 years on newsstands.

Cuban kids resist reggaeton, one verse at a time

Forget reggaeton or rap: for children in rural Cuba the epitome of cool is writing and singing a ten-line poem -- a art form honed by farmers and preserved over generations.

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